Scanning treatment laser

Abstract

An therapeutic laser device that incorporates a scanning head to direct low level laser light into a treatment zone that can have any desired shape or energy distribution within a hemisphere forward of the scanning head. The device enables laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and different energy distributions to be applied externally to a patient's body.

1. A laser device comprising:
 a) at least one laser energy source for generating a laser beam; 
 b) a wand from which the laser beam emits, the wand being capable of being retained in a hand of a user and freely moved relative to the surface of the skin of a patient; and 
 c) a scanning head attached to the wand for receiving the laser beam and for directing the laser beam to a desired location wherein the scanning head comprises a spindle mounted for rotation on a hollow shaft, an optical element mounted on the spindle and rotatable in a plane perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the spindle, a cam slidably mounted on the spindle and rotatable with the spindle, and a hinged arm joining the cam to the optical element such that sliding motion of the cam on the spindle causes rotation of the single optical element relative to the spindle. 
 
   
   
     2. A therapeutic laser device comprising:
 a) a laser energy source generating a laser beam; 
 b) a wand from which the laser beams emit, the wand having an interior cavity and being capable of being retained in the hand of a user and freely moved relative to the surface of the skin of the patient; 
 c) a scanning head mounted in the interior cavity of the wand for receiving the laser beam and for directing the laser beam into a desired location, the scanning head comprising a spindle mounted for rotation on a hollow shaft, an optical element mounted on the spindle and rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation with the spindle, a cam slidably mounted on the spindle and rotatable with the spindle, and a hinged arm joining the cam to the optical element such that sliding motion of the cam on the spindle causes rotation of the optical element relative to the spindle; and 
 d) a control circuit for controlling the scanning head to direct the laser beam to form a desired shape.